Deep in the Appalachian forests of Eastern Kentucky lives a species found nowhere else on Earth—the yellow-spotted woodland salamander. But unless we act now, this unique and ancient creature could vanish forever.

Only a few hundred of these salamanders remain in the wild, clinging to survival on 21 fragile rock outcrops in areas like Harlan and Letcher counties. They face overwhelming threats: mountaintop removal mining, habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, and climate change. Every new mining permit issued near their habitat chips away at their chance of survival.

In 2022, a coalition of environmental groups—including Kentucky Heartwood, Kentucky Waterways Alliance, and Appalachian Voices—petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the salamander under the Endangered Species Act. The agency was legally required to respond, but missed its deadline. Now, the Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit to force the agency to act before it's too late.

The science is clear: without immediate federal protections, the yellow-spotted woodland salamander may go extinct within our lifetimes. This isn’t just about one small amphibian—it's about protecting our region’s fragile ecosystems from reckless exploitation and honoring our responsibility to future generations.

We’re calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its regional leadership to immediately review and grant Endangered Species Act protections for the yellow-spotted woodland salamander. We’re also urging Governor Andy Beshear and the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection to halt the approval of any new surface mining permits in known salamander habitats until federal action is taken.

Kentuckians care about our mountains, our wildlife, and our natural heritage. Let’s show that no species is too small to fight for.

Sign this petition to demand action that protects the yellow-spotted woodland salamander—before we lose it forever.